This time last month, over 1400 NUS delegates from student unions all over the UK gathered in Blackpool for the annual NUS conference.

As well as the usual burning debates about the major issues facing the modern student, elections for the next academic year’s student representatives were held.

Current president Wes Streeting was re-elected with a staggering 81 per cent of the vote.

Mr Streeting was clearly determined to act on the issue of top-up fees that the latter part of 2009 promises to bring: “We will step up to the plate with an analysis of its failings and a fairer, equitable and sustainable alternative that sees graduates contribute according to the real benefits they obtain and our government putting it's money where it's mouth is on the importance of education and the necessity to widen access and increase opportunity and aspiration."

He added: “I relish the challenge that lies ahead.”

His opponent Rob Owen was one of the ring leaders of the pro-Palestinian protest that disturbed proceedings at the last conference, back in January.

He acted as their spokesperson and was granted to speak for a period of five minutes to an audience of disgruntled delegates, most of whom had turned their backs on him in their own protest.

Despite gaining 140 votes for President, he and friend Hind Hassan, who coincidently also lost his bid to become vice-president of welfare, were censured by the conference for their illegal protest and their powers were duly taken from them.

Edinburgh delegate Ross MacRae spoke of his content with the elected candidates as he told The Journal: “The students elected were the better candidates on the day. People who expressed a wish to engage properly with the government were generally elected and the more radical voices gained the least votes.”

In the wake of the "extraordinary conference" last January, where a new constitution was finally approved, two new zones were in need of vice-presidents.

Susan Nash was elected the first ever VP of the Societies and Citizenship Zone and mandated to concentrate on anti-racism strategies in the run up to elections.

Meanwhile, Richard Budden, better known to many delegates as ‘Bubble’, emerged victorious as the new VP of Union Development. He said: “I want ours to be a movement that works together, and wins together.”

Another change as a result of the new constitution meant that the block of 12 National Executive Committees (NEC) now became the block of 15. It was up to delegates to decide on the day of conference who they vote for.

It became evident that the outcome of the vote was largely swayed by election gimmicks rather than the candidates' speeches.

The Union of Jewish Students representative, Jak Codd went to the trouble of handing out a portion of fish and chips to every delegate present. He was one of the first to be elected.

A number of current issues were debated, followed by votes that determined NUS’s official position on them. Perhaps unsurprisingly, delegates voted to campaign for a fair and sustainable higher education funding system to replace top-up fees.

Following the recent media storm late last year, NUS voted to support students’ unions in regulating unacceptable initiation ceremonies on campus. A review of the minimum wage was also called for, as delegates suggested abolishing the current age bands system making it fairer for all.

The newly elected students will take up their positions on Monday 1 July as the reformed constitution will be officially implemented.